Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Late-Season 7-Round 2015 Mock Draft

With just two games remaining in their disappointing 2014 campaign, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers own a 2-12 record and are in the driver's seat for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 NFL draft.

Fans have already turned their attention to the team's draft options. As is usually the case, there are plenty of needs across the board for the NFC South's current cellar-dwellers.

Offensive line tops the list of glaring holes for the Bucs, but their likely position near the top of the draft could afford them the opportunity to take a swing on a potential franchise quarterback. They could have a pair of Heisman winners to pick from, with Oregon's Marcus Mariota and Florida State's Jameis Winston both expected to declare early for the draft.

But the needs don't stop there. The pass rush still needs improvement, and depth at receiver and in the secondary should be addressed as well. Thanks to a few trades, the Bucs currently own eight selections in the 2015 draft, so they should have plenty of opportunities to restock the cupboard.

It's still plenty early, but here's a potential scenario for how all seven rounds could go for the Bucs at next year's draft.

1st Round: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

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Some think spending the top pick on a quarterback would be useless for a team that employs one of the weakest offensive line units in the league, but the Bucs would be foolish not to take a potential franchise passer at the top of this draft.

This year's quarterback crop is extremely thin—and getting thinner with the news that Michigan State's Connor Cook will return to East Lansing in 2015—but the Bucs could have their pick of the only two prospects who look to have star potential at the next level.

Mariota has been pigeonholed by some as just another single-read signal-caller whose gaudy stats are more a reflection of Oregon's spread offense than its quarterback's talent level. But a closer look at the film reveals a poised, collected passer who knows how to negotiate the pocket, go through his progressions effectively and throw with anticipation. Can he make plays with his legs outside of the pocket? Sure. But it's an added bonus to his skill set as a passer, not the keystone of his entire game.

Many fear Mariota can only succeed at the NFL level if he's in an offensive system that closely mirrors the one he's run in Eugene. But while it may take some time for him to adjust to a more pro-style attack, the Bucs will be in the advantageous position of looking for a new offensive coordinator this offseason anyway. This would allow them to pair Mariota with a play-caller who can accentuate the Heisman winner's strengths.

SI.com's Peter King recently weighed in on Mariota, saying that Tampa Bay might actually be the best fit for both his skills and personality:

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Mariota would be better off anyway going to a less-intense environment with very good skill players. Coincidentally, Tampa Bay is excellent in those categories … and the Bucs currently hold the first overall pick with two weeks left before the final draft order is released.

Mariota to Vincent Jackson (though he’ll be 32 next year) and Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Not a bad group of targets to start with—if the Bucs cooperate, and lose to the Packers and Saints in the last two weeks of the season. That would ensure Tampa Bay having the top pick next spring.

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By all accounts, Mariota is a quiet, humble player who leads by example, which sounds like a perfect fit for the face of a franchise coached by Lovie Smith. He also possesses the electrifying playmaking ability that the Bucs desperately lack at the game's most important position, and the Bucs should swing for the fences by taking him with this pick.

2nd Round: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

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If the Bucs don't address their needs on the offensive line with their top pick, they simply must look there with this pick.

The Anthony Collins experiment looks to be over. Instead of finding a replacement at left tackle this offseason, it looks like Tampa Bay might be content to keep Demar Dotson there after moving him over from right tackle last week.

If that's the case, Jason Licht and Co. could look to a player like Clemmings, who has plenty of experience on the right side. Some analysts project him as a potential left tackle prospect due to his skill set, but he might be better suited to stay where he's comfortable at the next level.

Mike Gerken of NEPatriotsDraft.com thinks Clemmings brings a solid blend of natural talent and versatility to the table:

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Even though he has only played right tackle so far in his career, I think he has the athleticism and footwork to play left tackle as well. Not only that, with his combination of power and ability to get to the second level, I think he could be a great guard as well. He is raw but has shown the ability to learn the position quickly and the negatives in his game are easily correctable with some good coaching.

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Clemmings would give the Bucs a potential Day 1 starter at right tackle who could eventually take over for Dotson on the left side or, at the very least, slide inside and take care of their need at guard.

3rd Round: Markus Golden, DE, Missouri

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The Bucs hoped they were solving their edge-rush issues when they signed free agent Michael Johnson to a lucrative five-year deal last offseason. But the former Cincinnati Bengal has managed just three sacks in 2014, and Tampa Bay's most productive edge-rusher has been waiver-wire wonder Jacquies Smith.

Golden is the less heralded of Missouri's two pass-rushers—teammate Shane Ray is widely regarded as a potential top-15 pick—but he's been extremely productive and could end up being the better value if he's still available at the top of the third round.

Golden may not have the ideal length or lightning-quick first step of the top edge-rushers in this class, but he still has a knack for getting to the quarterback and making plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Dane Brugler, via CBSSports.com, gave his thoughts on Golden earlier this month:

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He isn't an elite speed rusher off the edge, but he shows the flexibility, athleticism and hand technique to beat blockers in space, using his quick eyes to read and adjust on the move. Golden plays with energy and a relentless style that makes it tough to slow his momentum, finishing with violence at the ball. While Ray is more gifted, Golden is more seasoned and ready to be an every-down NFL player.

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Adrian Clayborn's contract is up at the end of the year, and he's coming off his second season-ending injury of his career. Smith will likely be retained, but Tampa Bay needs a rusher to push Johnson and create some big plays in the backfield. If he's still on the board this late, the Bucs should pull the trigger on Golden.

4th Round (from St. Louis): Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke

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Tampa Bay needs help at every position along the offensive line, so don't be surprised if it spends multiple picks on that unit early in the 2015 draft.

After losing Carl Nicks for good to a toe injury, the Bucs swung a deal for veteran Pro Bowler Logan Mankins.  But the former Patriot hasn't performed up to his previous level of play at left guard, and the Bucs have had a revolving door at right guard, with nobody stepping up to take control of the starting spot. And let's not even talk about the lack of depth.

Tomlinson is one of the top guard prospects in this year's class, but it's possible he could still be hanging around when the Bucs' fourth-round pick rolls around.

The four-year starter has accepted an invite to participate in the Senior Bowl, and the official website for the game notes that Tomlinson has the talent to become an effective starter early in his career:

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For the NFL, Laken should be able to replicate what Zack Martin/Cowboys, Joel Bitonio/Browns and Jack Mewhort/Colts have done in 2014 and that’s to start early in his rookie campaign and help solidify the core of an NFL team’s offensive line. Because of his overall personal discipline and drive in conjunction with his natural size and ability, expect him to have a distinguished and successful NFL career barring injury. This prospect is a big man who can roll his hips after contact, plus move his feet in a short area and anchor the bottom of the pocket, all traits that are required of successful NFL starting guards.

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It's not often a team can find a Day 1 starter in the fourth round, but the Bucs could do just that by grabbing a well-rounded, experienced blocker like Tomlinson here.

5th Round (from Baltimore): Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland

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They may have bagged their new No. 1 receiver with last year's top pick, but the Bucs are still in the market for a reliable slot target.

Chris Owusu, Louis Murphy, Russell Shepard and 2014 sixth-round pick Robert Herron have all cycled through the slot receiver position, but Murphy is the only one who has had any semblance of consistency in that role. If the Bucs aren't willing to wait any longer on Herron's development, they could spend another mid-to-late rounder to try to find the right fit.

Diggs comes with some health concerns, with each of his last two seasons ending early due to injuries.  Those issues will raise a red flag and likely push Diggs down the draft board, but if he can stay healthy the Bucs could end up with a gem.

Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com believes Diggs has plenty of desirable traits, beginning with his natural athleticism:

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There is no doubt that Diggs is a speed mismatch. He is extremely fast and can burn coverage deep down the field. Diggs is a home-run threat who stretches a defense vertically. He has the speed to transform an offense and will be a deep threat in the NFL.

As a receiver, Diggs is more than just a fast runner. He has great body control to make catches on the sideline and adjust to poorly thrown balls. Even though Diggs isn't that large of a target, he can jump and has a sizable catching radius.

Diggs' body control extends to after the catch. He is a very shifty runner capable of juking defenders in the open field. With his change of directions skills, Diggs is definitely not a "straight line only" speed player. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands and racks up a lot of yards after the catch.

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Vincent Jackson is likely entering the latter years of his NFL career, but he'll still make a suitable companion for Mike Evans for the time being. But the Bucs could use that playmaker in the slot who can also bring value as a return specialist—another spot they've failed to fill this year—and Diggs could very well be their man.

6th Round: Kevin White, CB, TCU

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One key role Lovie Smith has failed to find the right fit for is at nickel corner, a vital position in the Tampa 2 defense.

Bucs great Ronde Barber excelled in his role during the Bucs' glory days, using his instincts and smarts to overcome his lack of size and elite speed. But Barber won't be walking through the doors of One Buc Place as a player again, and the likes of Leonard Johnson and Isaiah Frey just haven't cut it so far.

At just 5'10", 174 pounds, White definitely fits the "undersized" bill, and his skills both in coverage and as a tackler could be the perfect fit for the Bucs nickel spot.

Alex Brown of Optimum Scouting broke down White's performance this season against one of the top receivers in the nation—strangely enough, West Virginia's Kevin White—and came away impressed:

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White’s lack of size and length limit his ability to play physically at the line of scrimmage, but he knows this and stays in phase with controlled, athletic movements. He’s comfortable playing off the receiver in bail technique, but also showcased the body control and balance downfield to look-and-lean through the receiver in trail positioning.

With White’s skill set, I could see him transitioning seamlessly into a nickel corner role at the next level and be able to spell a few starts on the outside.

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The likes of Barber don't come around too often, but Tampa Bay definitely needs to prioritize finding the right fit at this position, and they need to do it as soon as possible. If White is still on the board and they haven't addressed it until this late, the Bucs should use one of their two sixth-round picks to grab White.

6th Round (from St. Louis): Adrian Amos, S, Penn State

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Tampa Bay chose to move on from former top-10 pick Mark Barron, and it might use one of the picks it got in return from the Rams to bolster the depth at safety left behind by Barron's departure.

Veteran Major Wright has played well when healthy, but his ceiling is fairly low. The Bucs' front office seems to really like youngster Bradley McDougald, who started for the injured Wright last week and led the team with a whopping 15 tackles.

But it remains to be seen what the team does with Dashon Goldson, who was a big-money free agent brought in by the previous regime and has struggled to live up to high expectations. With so many question marks at the safety spot and depth concerns across the entire secondary, Amos might be a wise selection.

The senior Nittany Lion brings plenty of versatility, having considerable starting experience at both corner and safety. He's got the ideal frame for the safety spot, with the bulk to lay the big hits or mix it up in the box.

Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com had this to say about Amos prior to the 2014 season:

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He takes aggressive angles and explodes downhill while also showing the start/stop quickness to recover and alter his path mid-momentum. Amos' new defensive coordinator Bob Shoop had high praise for him, saying he has the talent and versatile abilities to be the 'best defensive back in all of college football.'

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NFL head coaches are always looking for players who can maximize their roster spot by wearing multiple hats, making Amos a valuable commodity who can play at either level of the secondary, as well as be an immediate contributor on special teams.

7th Round: David Andrews, C, Georgia

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The attempt by Tampa Bay's new personnel staff to rebuild the team's weak offensive line hasn't exactly gone to plan, with underperformance plaguing a unit that was addressed in every way possible this offseason—in the draft, free agency, and by trade.

No position up front was immune from the disappointment, including free-agent addition Evan Dietrich-Smith, who came to Tampa Bay after a successful stretch in Green Bay. The veteran has struggled with overall effectiveness, penalties and the occasional poor snap, leaving the Bucs to possibly look for alternate options this offseason.

Helping pave the way for a successful ground attack that featured the likes of Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb, Andrews might not be a complete player yet, but he's got some valuable traits, according to Rob Rang, via CBSSports.com:

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Entering his third season as the Bulldogs' starting center, Andrews has established himself as one of the better pivots in the country. He has good initial quickness for the reach block, as well as the leg drive to push defenders off their mark. He lacks ideal balance and the agility to recover if beaten initially but could earn interest on Day Three.

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It's rare that these late picks are able to stick and have a sizable impact on their team, but Andrews would be a solid attempt to at least bolster depth at a position that could be a huge question mark heading into the 2015 season.